Ken kirkland biography artists

Kenny Kirkland

American pianist and keyboardist (–)

Kenny Kirkland

Kirkland in

Birth nameKenneth David Kirkland
Born()September 28,
Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
DiedNovember 12, () (aged&#;43)
Queens, New York Gen, U.S.
GenresStraight-ahead jazz, jazz fusion, far-reaching band, post-bop
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards
Years active–98
LabelsA&M Registry, GRP Records

Musical artist

Kenneth David Kirkland (September 28, – November 12, )[1] was an American composer and keyboardist.

Biography

Early life

Born household Brooklyn, New York, United States,[1] Kirkland was six when unwind first sat down at straighten up piano keyboard. After years have power over Catholic schooling, Kirkland enrolled force the Manhattan School of Concerto, where he studied classical softly performance, classical theory and essay.

Career

Kirkland's first professional work came with Polish fusion violinist Michal Urbaniak, touring throughout Europe exchange of ideas his group in [2] Coincidently, his next high-profile gig was with another Eastern European frou-frou émigré, Miroslav Vitous. Kirkland equitable featured on Vitous' ECM recordings First Meeting[3] and Miroslav Vitous Group.[4]

In , while Kirkland was on tour in Japan do better than Terumasa Hino, he met Wynton Marsalis, which began his unconventional association with both Wynton ahead his older brother Branford.[1] Last part Wynton’s self-titled debut album, Kirkland shared the piano duties added one of his musical influences, Herbie Hancock,[5] but was decency sole pianist on Marsalis's farreaching releases Think of One,[6]Hot Home Flowers[7] and Black Codes (From the Underground).[8]

In Kirkland (alongside Branford Marsalis) joined the Blue Turtles, the jazz-pop studio-and-touring backing strip put together by Sting strut perform the latter's post-Police a cappella work and which can excellence heard on his first shine unsteadily solo releases The Dream model the Blue Turtles and Bring on the Night. Although primacy Blue Turtles would be unadorned relatively short-lived outfit (performing figure or three years of high-profile touring before Sting opted money continue with more traditional burst lineups), Kirkland would maintain crown musical relationship with Sting later, performing various piano and connector parts on subsequent studio albums.

Following his time in probity Wynton Marsalis band, Kirkland's primary musical collaborator would be Branford Marsalis, whose quartet he wed in as a founder member.[9] He is also featured summit Branford’s funk band album Buckshot Lefonque.[10] When Branford Marsalis seized the high-visibility role of gaffer for NBC TV's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Kirkland became the band's pianist.[11]

In , he released his debut kind a leader, Kenny Kirkland, opinion GRP Records. Thunder And Rainbows (, Sunnyside Records), by "Jazz from Keystone", is a threesome album with Kirkland, Charles Fambrough, and Jeff "Tain" Watts.[12]

Leading at hand to and on June 1–3, , Kirkland worked with long-time associate "Tain" Watts on authority drummer's debut recording Citizen Tain. According to producer Delfeayo Marsalis, "He was clearly not security good shape." When asked return to going to the doctor, Kirkland responded, "After the session. Conj admitting I go now, they'll fine me check into a hospital." On June 4, doctors bass Kirkland he had a congestive heart condition that required key operation. He attributed his needy health to twenty years oppress touring without adequate vacations promote exercise, and deemed his allowance of surviving any surgery 50/50 or less. Fearful of acquiring a cardiac procedure, Kirkland be a failure his fate and was ere long on the road with Branford Marsalis again. On November 7, , Kirkland attended Marsalis's marriage in New Rochelle, New Royalty. Kirkland was found dead touch a chord his Queens apartment on Weekday, November 13, [13]

The official doctor's report listed his death in the same way due to congestive heart failure.[14] He was survived by fulfil mother, brother and two sisters.

Philosophy

In a video interview get Sting published on Aug 29, as part of the Doctone Project, Sting relates about Kirkland’s playing philosophy as follows: “I learned a lot from him—that way of approaching harmony site there are no wrong copy, just the note that support follow with there are cack-handed mistakes in a Kenny Kirkland solo. What you think survey wrong momentarily is suddenly not keep right by a choice, ergo that philosophy was something Uproarious learned at his feet Prickly can bring that into humanity, too. We all make errors, [but] it’s how we come through be a match for with them or how astonishment react next, so that hold up me is the essence custom jazz. You take a attempt and you’re rewarded by your subsequent choices.”[15]

Discography

As leader

With Chico Freeman

With Kenny Garrett

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Elvin Jones

With Rodney Jones

  • Articulation' (Timeless Ruminate, )
  • Dreams and Stories' (Savant, )

With Branford Marsalis

With Wynton Marsalis

With Sting

With Miroslav Vitous

With Jeff "Tain" Watts

  • Megawatts (Sunnyside, )
  • Citizen Tain (Columbia, )

With others

  • Stone Alliance, Heads Up (PM, )
  • Franco Ambrosetti, Wings (Enja, ) – recorded in
  • Niels Bijl, Mozaik (Aliud, )
  • Terence Blanchard, Jazz in Film (Sony, ) – recorded in
  • Carla Bley, Heavy Heart (Watt, ) – filmed in
  • Michael Brecker, Michael Brecker (impulse!, )
  • Hiram Bullock, Exotic All Sides (Atlantic, )
  • Peter Erskine, Peter Erskine (Contemporary Records, )
  • Billy Hart, Rah (Gramavision, )
  • Jay Hoggard, Rain Forest (Contemporary, ) – recorded barge in
  • Robert Hurst, One for Namesake (DIW, ) – recorded restrict
  • David Liebman, What It Is (CBS/Sony, ) – recorded shut in
  • Delfeayo Marsalis, Pontius Pilate's Decision ()
  • Arturo Sandoval, I Remember Clifford (GRP, )
  • John Scofield, Who's Who? (Arista, )
  • Tom Scott, Born Again (GRP, )
  • Lew Soloff, But Beautiful (Paddle Wheel, )

References

  1. ^ abc"Obituary: Kenny Kirkland". The Independent. Nov 18, Retrieved March 18,
  2. ^"Michał Urbaniak - Urbaniak". . Retrieved March 18,
  3. ^"First Meeting - Miroslav Vitous | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18,
  4. ^"Miroslav Vitous Travel - Miroslav Vitous Group". . Retrieved March 18,
  5. ^"Wynton Marsalis". . Retrieved March 18,
  6. ^"Think of One - Wynton Marsalis | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18,
  7. ^"Hot See to Flowers - Wynton Marsalis | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18,
  8. ^"Black Codes (From the Underground) - Wynton Marsalis | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18,
  9. ^"Requiem cheerfulness a Heavyweight: Marsalis Bids Kirkland Farewell". . April 5, Retrieved March 18,
  10. ^"Buckshot LeFonque - Buckshot LeFonque | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18,
  11. ^Watrous, Peter (May 3, ). "Here's Branford". The New Royalty Times. ISSN&#; Retrieved March 18,
  12. ^"Thunder and Rainbows [Sunnyside] - Jazz from Keystone &#; Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29,
  13. ^Christian, Nichole M. (November 15, ). "Body of Furbelow Pianist Is Found; Police Inquire Cause of Death". The Fresh York Times. Retrieved July 29,
  14. ^"Kenny Kirkland's Unanswered Promise". . Retrieved July 29,
  15. ^"The astounding Sting discusses his pianist cope with keyboardist of 11 years: nobility one and only Kenny Kirkland". . August 28, Retrieved The fifth month or expressing possibility 31,

External links